From the desk of  ..                                                                                                              October 2001

Subha and Hepsi  …                                                                                                GLITCHES & GRACE

The terrible tragedy that struck America on the morning of September 11, 2001 turned a new leaf in the annals of world history.  It showed how vulnerable even a strong nation is to terrorism, a new enemy that has the potential to destroy the whole world if left alone.  Our hearts go out to many children that lost their only parent, families that will never be the same without their loved ones who perished in a split second in the flaming fire.  One can never forget the heroism of a few passengers that saved many lives on the ground (and the heart of America: the Capitol and the White House) by overcoming the terrorists in the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania.  Nor can we forget the heroism of the fire fighters who gave their lives doing their duty.  I admire Pope John Paul’s statement that brings the right perspective at a time like this: Death and enemy do not have the final say but God has.  The tragedy, as terrible as it is, brought out the best in America- giving and sharing of resources such as blood, money and time, honoring of the flag and may I add, fervent praying that beautifully portrayed our need and dependence on God.  I am proud of the man in the highest office, President George W. Bush who has led the nation to look to God, the Shepherd for His comfort and grace, Ps. 23:4.  The very thing that internal elements did such as remove prayer in schools, became the order of the day by default: prayer in public places such as in a football arena, reminding that this country was after all founded on God and the Bible.  The doors are open in an unprecedented manner for sharing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, something we would never have imagined before the tragedy took place.  It is only fitting that we be sensitive to the Spirit in availing opportunities to bring people to the saving knowledge of Christ.   The concepts of freedom and fear in the kingdoms/ nations on earth the President talks about, are biblical concepts: Jesus Christ delivers us from the fear of the enemy (Satan) and gives us freedom from bondage to sin.  Paul writes in I Thess 1:10 that Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come.  Yes, He delivers us (those who receive Him into their hearts) from eternal wrath of God in hell by salvation and also, the Bible affirms that He will deliver us from entering into the Great Tribulation by receiving us in the Rapture.  Friends, the coming of the Lord is nearer than it was felt before September 11, 2001 and the events of September 11, 2001 point us to this question:  Where is my security?  In my job or in the US economy or in Christ who died for me and freed me from fear?  The gaping hole in Pentagon hits the very military strength and the displacement of the World Trade Center (two 110-storeyed towers) with its rubble mocks the very economic fabric of this country challenging a serious retrospection of where we find security.  May the Nation invite God into its value system and derive security and strength from Him.  

Speaking of Paul’s I Thessalonians, it is neat to look into the eschatological concepts of this great epistle.  Just look at the last few lines of each chapter and you see the grandeur of the Lord Jesus.  He delivers us from the wrath to come, 1:10.  He rewards His saints with crowns at His coming, 2:19.  He establishes you blameless in holiness when He comes with His saints, 3:12.  He raptures us (The dead in Christ shall rise first and then we who are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet Him in the air.), 4:17.  He sanctifies us completely and preserves our whole spirit, body and soul blameless at His coming, 5:23.  Do you get the sense?  He who calls us is faithful and He will do it, Amen.

Tucked in this epistle are two instances where we can notice our study phrase, But God.  Paul takes his vocation seriously and he desires to please not men but God.  He is answerable to God and he is not shy about it.  Our hearts go out to the Christian missionaries all over the world that are facing trial for sharing their faith with non-Christians.  Some are killed without a proper trial and their bodies are not even returned to the families for a proper burial.  It is important that we recognize God balancing the books when He returns.  Here is Paul’s statement (2:4): But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.  How trustworthy are we with the gospel?  Whom do we please?  How about our holiness?  God has called us to a life of holiness and we must possess our vessels in honor to Him.  If we sin against others, Paul declares that we are deliberately despising God’s will in this matter.  The verse (4:8) reads this way: He that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit. Whether sharing of our faith or sanctification of our bodies, let us invite God into the picture and be spared from unnecessary turmoil.  How dare we walk away from His will?

At homefront, Kumpatys are enjoying the Lord in a special way.  We are quite involved with our students at workplace and we have a neat bible study with four international students on Friday nights.  The Navigators 2:7 series, Growing Strong in God’s Family is our study material.  It has been really great.  We thank the Lord for His provision.  The two MSOE graduates who went to Minsk, Belarus are doing well with students there. Praise Him!  

G&G is free for the asking.  Our address: N 7144 Lakeshore Ave., Elkhorn, WI 53121.  Our phone: (262) 742-5113.  Email: kumpaty@msoe.edu and kumpatyh@uww.edu.